Michelle Pfeiffer claims Bill Gates-backed coating means 'organic produce is no longer safe'
On Thursday the actress, 67, expressed concern on social media over the FDA 's approval of Apeel, a Gates-backed food coating meant to extend the shelf life of produce.
'Apeel (an edible, plant-based coating designed to extend the shelf life of fresh fruits and vegetables) was just approved and now "organic" produce is coated in something we cannot see or wash off,' Pfeiffer wrote. 'Ver concerning.'
She shared a video that claimed 'organic produce is no longer safe' after 'Bill Gates' Apeel just approved for USDA-certified organic.'
Apeel has long been mired in controversy over its ingredients and association with Gates.
The company was founded in 2012 by entrepreneur James Rogers with the help of a $100,000 grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
The Gates' are not currently involved in Apeel, which has received substantial backing from venture capitalist Andreessen Horowitz.
Post: Despite Pfeiffer's comments, Apeel claims on its website that their coatings can be washed
Apeel responded by saying it was 'both disappointing and concerning to see a public figure like Michelle Pfeiffer use her platform to spread disinformation about our company, our mission, and the work of our employees.'
They added: 'To set the record straight: Bill Gates is not now, nor has he ever been, a shareholder in Apeel Sciences.
'Additionally, our products have been reviewed and allowed on the market in compliance with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. National Organic Program requirements for nearly eight years - not recently, as Ms. Pfeiffer's post suggests,' Jenny Du, co-founder of Apeel and senior vice president of operations, said in a statement.
Also, the company claimed that their coatings can be washed by rinsing the produce with water and scrubbing it.
'Apeel uses plant lipids or plant oils naturally found in fruits and vegetables and creates a coating applied to the surface of fresh fruits and vegetables in order to retain moisture and reduce oxidation,' Du told the Associated Press. 'Our product is also intended to be edible.'
The coating consists of purified monoglycerides and diglycerides, which Du pointed out are also found in products such as infant formula.
The company has said their coating technology can help reduce post-harvest food waste in developing countries and is ultimately aimed at combatting famine and hunger.
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